What was the greatest invention of the C20th? Doing Significance with Key Stage 2.

‘What was the greatest invention of the C20th?’

Doing Significance with Key Stage 2.

Key Stage 2 History:

Knowledge, skills and understandingChronological understandingKnowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the pastHistorical interpretationHistorical enquiryOrganisation and communication

Breadth of studyA local history studyThree British history studiesA European history studyA world history study

Historical Significance

• Considering the significance of events, people and developments at the time and in the present day.

Key concept 1.5 Significance

This includes:

• considering why something might have been thought important at the time and not now;

•Why something might be thought very important now, but not at the time;

and

• identifying the reasons used to decide if something is significant;

Key concept 1.5 Significance

What can be significant?

Example

events

people

developments

causes

issues

changes

AF2 - Exploring Interpretations

Significance

Interpretations

APP:

L3: …….compare different ways in which people have represented an event or person….

Using criteria – Christine Counsell’s model

An event/development is significant if: • Remarkable – it was remarked upon by people at the time and/or since• Remembered – it was important at some stage in history within the collective memory of a group or groups• Resulted in change – it had consequences for the future• Resonant– people like to make analogies with it; it is possible to connect with experiences, beliefs or situations across time & space• Revealing – of some other aspect of the past

Using criteria – Partington’s model

What makes an event significant is dependent upon the following factors:

1. Importance – to people living at the time

2. Profundity – how deeply people’s lives were affected by it

3. Quantity – how many lives were affected

4. Durability – for how long people’s lives were affected

5. Relevance – the extent to which the event has contributed to an increased understanding of present life

Using criteria – Ian Dawson’s model

Reasons for an invention being significant. If it:

• changed events at the time it was invented.

• improved lots of people’s lives – or made them worse.

• changed people’s ideas.

• had a long lasting effect on their country or on the world.

What are your criteria?

Explore some of the Inventions of the C20th

As a whole group, explore some of the inventions of the C20th and their impact on everyday life. Why have some made an impact, and some not done so?

Inventions for Good, and Inventions for Bad?

In small groups, research and investigate some of these inventions, and try to categorise them into ‘good’ and ‘bad.’

Make a short presentation to the whole group about your findings.

As individuals select your ‘top three’ inventions.

What criteria will you choose?

Once you have justified your choice, present your ideas to the whole group in any way you feel is appropriate.

medical…

hearing aid, 1923

insulin 1921

antibiotics 1928

birth control pill 1951

MRI scanner 1977

Polio vaccine 1955

pacemaker 1960

cloning 1997

IVF 1977

the world of work

photocopier 1938

transistor radio 1953

tv 1925

video recorder 1956

computer 1948

assembly line 1908

microchip 1958

internet 1969

floppy disc 1971

talking movies 1927

credit cards 1950

mobile phone

travel….

aeroplane 1903

helicopter 1936

jet engine 1930

satellite 1957

space travel 1961

warfare

sub machine gun 1920

tank 1915

atom bomb 1945

napalm 1942

consumer goods….

1904

1913

1926

1930

1936

1946

1964

1965

1901

1907

1913

1920

1924

1926

1938

1946

1947 1935

1979

1948

nuclear power….

An invention for the 21st Century

In small groups design and build an invention for the 21st Century.

Plenary:In three minutes, ‘sell’ your invention to the rest of the group.

SOME EXAMPLES OF SIGNIFICANCE QUESTIONS

Why was ......................significant ?

In what ways was ............. significant ?

Which of these ........... do you think made the most significant contribution to ..........?

What was the short-term / medium-term / long - term significance of ............................. ?

Why is ...................significant to ... .........?

How significant is ........... to our lives today ?

What was remarkable about .....................?

Why should ............be remembered ?

What does ...........reveal about ..................?

historical significance

You need to: -

• use criteria to make judgements on historical significance,

• devise their own criteria,

• understand, and then explain, that using different criteria can lead to different judgements,

• understand, and then explain, that asking different historical questions can lead to different judgements,

• explore how judgements on historical significance have varied across different periods,

• recognise, and then explain, that holding different values leads to different judgements.

[e] alf.wilkinson@history.org.uk

[t] 01529 460553

21 Chapel Lane, Little Hale, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 9BE